Before the company Christmas party, I wrote a funny message on my husband’s chest and received an unexpected response.

“So you’re the woman who left the message for my husband?” I asked.

But to my surprise, his answer wasn’t what I expected. Instead of cowardly denying everything, she boldly stated that I deserved better.

“Husbands like that deserve to be treated like bargaining chips,” she said, glancing at Travis.

The latter, flushed with anger and embarrassment, exclaimed, “How dare you?”

But it didn’t matter. The woman had already closed the door. I left Travis standing there and went back to the car, ignoring him. When I got back to the car, I saw a text from my mom and the phone number of a divorce lawyer.

This is the heartbreaking Christmas gift I gave myself instead of the Christmas celebration I expected. Instead, a fresh start awaits me – a new year of rebuilding, rediscovering, and pursuing happiness on my terms.